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IPBES Report on Sustainable use of Wild Species

Why in News:

• According to a report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), there are approximately 50,000 wild species worldwide that can fulfill the requirements of billions of individuals.

Main Findings of the Report

Importance of Wild Species for Human Well-Being:

• Billions of people globally rely on wild species for food, energy, medicine, materials, and other purposes
• Wild species are particularly important for people in vulnerable situations
• Approximately 50,000 wild species are used for various purposes through fishing, gathering, logging, and terrestrial animal harvesting
• Sustainable use of wild species can significantly contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals but is largely overlooked

Sustainable Use of Wild Species for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities:

• Sustainable use of wild species is essential to the identity and existence of many indigenous peoples and local communities
• Loss of opportunities for sustainable use poses an existential threat to these communities
• Indigenous knowledge, practices, and worldviews guide sustainable uses of wild species

Status and Trends in the Use of Wild Species:

• Overfishing and bycatch threaten marine wild fish stocks and protected marine species
• Trade in wild plants, algae, and fungi is increasing
• Large-bodied mammals are often targeted for subsistence and commercial hunting
• Logging for energy is prevalent globally, with developing countries relying more heavily on wood for heating and cooking
• Nature-based tourism is an important non-extractive use of wild species

Drivers of Change Affecting Wild Species:

• Landscape and seascape changes, climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species can impact the abundance and distribution of wild species and increase stress and challenges among human communities
• Environmental degradation and resource depletion threaten the livelihoods and well-being of people living in poverty who rely on wild species
• Inequitable distribution of costs and benefits from the use of wild species often undermines sustainability
• Gender is rarely considered in the governance of wild species, leading to inequities in distribution of costs and benefits

Levers for Promoting Sustainable Use of Wild Species:

• Inclusive and participatory policy options can strengthen sustainable use
• Recognition and support of multiple forms of knowledge can enhance sustainability
• Policy instruments and tools must ensure fair and equitable distribution of costs and benefits
• Context-specific policies are needed to ensure sustainability
• Monitoring of wild species and practices is crucial to prevent decline
• Policy instruments should be aligned at international, national, regional, and local levels, maintaining coherence and consistency with existing international obligations and taking into account customary rules and norms.

Project Tiger

Context: The National Tiger Conservation Authority has granted approval for Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, and Guru Ghasidas National Park & Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary to be declared as Tiger Reserves.

• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has granted initial approval for declaring Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.
• To tackle the issue of human-wildlife conflict, the Central Government has issued guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure through NTCA.
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger provides financial assistance for mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, including ex-gratia payments and staff capacity building.

Three-pronged Strategy for Managing Human-Tiger Negative Interactions in India

• Material and Logistical Support:
  • The Government of India provides funding support through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger to acquire infrastructure and material for dealing with tigers that disperse out of source areas.
• Restricting Habitat Interventions:
  • The Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) restricts habitat interventions based on the carrying capacity of tigers in a reserve.
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs):
  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority has issued three SOPs to manage human-animal conflict, which are publicly available:
    (i) Emergency response to tigers straying into human-dominated areas
    (ii) Managing tiger depredation on livestock
    (iii) Active management for rehabilitating tigers from source areas at the landscape level.

Project Tiger: India's Tiger Conservation Programme

• In April 1973, the Indian Government launched Project Tiger during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.
• The aim of the programme is to ensure a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats, protect them from extinction, and preserve areas of biological importance as a natural heritage.
• The coverage of Project Tiger has increased from 9 tiger reserves during its formative years to 50 at present, spread out in 18 of India's tiger range states.
• The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy, where core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, and buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple-use area.
• The Indian government has set up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers and funded the relocation of villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force to reorganize the management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India. It is the overarching body for the conservation of tigers in India.

Structure of NTCA:

• The Environment Minister serves as the Chairman of the NTCA.
• The NTCA consists of eight wildlife conservation and welfare experts/professionals and three Members of Parliament.
• The Inspector General of Forests, who is in charge of Project Tiger, serves as the ex-officio Member Secretary.

Functions of NTCA:

• The NTCA's primary function is to approve the Tiger Conservation Plan prepared by state governments.
• The NTCA evaluates and assesses various aspects of sustainable ecology and prevents any ecologically unsustainable land use, such as mining, industry, and other projects, within the tiger reserves.
• While every state government has the authority to declare an area as a tiger reserve, the Tiger Conservation Plans proposed by the state government must be approved by the NTCA.
• Alternatively, the Central Government may advise state governments to propose the creation of Tiger Reserves via the NTCA.

Other Functions of NTCA:

• Regulation and standardization of tourism activities in tiger reserves
• Management focus and measures for addressing conflicts between humans and wild animals
• Providing information on protection measures for tigers and other wildlife
• Ensuring that tiger reserves and areas linking one protected area or tiger reserve with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses
• Facilitating and supporting tiger reserve management in the state
• Providing critical support, including scientific, information technology and legal support, for better implementation of the tiger conservation plan.

Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022

Why in news:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently released the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022. This is in replacement of the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003 and is authorized by Section 4 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Formation of Committees for Forest Conservation under MoEFCC

Advisory Committee:

• The Advisory Committee has been constituted under the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022.
• Its role is to advise or recommend on the grant of approval under relevant sections for proposals referred to it and matters connected with forest conservation referred by the Central government.

Project Screening Committee:

• MoEFCC has directed the constitution of a project screening committee in each state/UT for an initial review of proposals involving the diversion of forest land.
• The committee has five members and must meet at least twice every month to advise the state governments on projects in a time-bound manner.
• The review period for non-mining projects between 5-40 hectares is 60 days and for mining projects, it is 75 days.
• For projects involving a larger area, the committee has 120 days for non-mining projects and 150 days for mining projects.

Regional Empowered Committees:

• The Integrated Regional Office will examine all linear projects, projects involving forest land up to 40 hectares, and those projected to use forest land with canopy density up to 0.7.
• There will be a regional empowered committee at each integrated regional office.

Compensatory Afforestation:

• Applicants for diverting forest land in hilly or mountainous states with green cover covering more than two-thirds of its geographical area or in states/UTs with forest cover covering more than one-third of its geographical area can take up compensatory afforestation in states/UTs where the cover is less than 20%.

Other Initiatives for Forest Conservation

Indian Forest Policy, 1952:

• The Indian Forest Policy, 1952 was an extension of the colonial forest policy, which aimed to increase the forest cover to one-third of the total land area. However, the need to generate revenue from forests for national interests led to massive deforestation to support defence, developmental projects, industries, and communication.

Forest Conservation Act, 1980:

• The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 made central permission necessary for sustainable agro-forestry in forest areas, and violation or lack of permit was treated as a criminal offence. The Act aimed to limit deforestation, conserve biodiversity and wildlife, but it wasn't successful in its target.

National Forest Policy, 1988:

• The National Forest Policy, 1988 aimed to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance through conservation of forests as a natural heritage. It shifted focus from commercial concerns to the ecological role of the forests and participatory management. The policy aimed to achieve 33% of the geographical area of the country under forest and tree cover.

National Afforestation Programme:

• The National Afforestation Programme was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2000 for the afforestation of degraded forest lands.

Other Related Acts:

• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, The Environment Protection Act of 1986, and The Biodiversity Diversity Act of 2002 are other related acts that aim to conserve the environment, wildlife, and biodiversity.

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006:

• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 recognizes and vests the forest rights and occupation of forest land in forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, who have been residing in such forests for generations.

Overview of Forests in India

India State of Forest Report 2021 revealed that the Total Forest and Tree cover is now 7,13,789 square kilometres, covering 21.71% of the country’s geographical area, an increase from 21.67% in 2019. The largest forest-covered states are Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

Forest Categories in India:

• The three main categories of forests in India are Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, and Village Forests. Reserved forests are the most restricted forests and are constituted by the State Government. Protected Forests are other lands owned by the government that have proprietary rights, and the State Government can issue rules regarding the use of these forests. Village forests are forests that the State Government can assign to any village community.

Degree of Protection:

• In India, the degree of protection of forests varies according to their category, with Reserved Forests being the most protected and Village Forests being the least protected.

Constitutional Provisions:

• The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 transferred Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds from State to Concurrent List. Article 48 A in the Directive Principles of State policy, mandates that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it shall be the Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests and Wildlife.

Red Pandas

Why in News:

• Singalila National Park has initiated a program with the objective of releasing approximately 20 red pandas over a span of five years.

About Red Pandas

• Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens
• Diet: The red panda is mostly herbivorous, feeding mainly on young leaves and shoots of bamboo. It also consumes fruits, roots, grasses, acorns, lichens, birds' eggs and insects.
• Appearance: Red pandas have a bear-like body, thick rust-colored fur, and are slightly larger than domestic cats. Their limbs and belly are black, and they have white markings around their small eyes and on the side of their head.
• Behavior and Habitat: Red pandas are solitary, shy, and arboreal animals that live in high-altitude forests in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. They prefer bamboo-covered areas close to water sources and are considered an indicator species for ecological changes.
• Distribution: Almost half of the red panda's habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
  
  
• Protection Status: Red pandas are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with less than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild, although the exact number is unknown.

UN Oceans Conference 2022

Why in news:

• Recently, the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022 was held with the aim of ensuring global cooperation towards protecting and sustaining the world's ocean ecosystem.
• The conference was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal.
• The Indian delegation was led by the Minister of Earth Sciences, who promised to provide science and innovation-based solutions for the implementation of Goal 14 through partnerships and environmentally friendly methods.
• The conference aligns with SDG 14 'life below water' and highlights the critical need for scientific knowledge and marine technology to build ocean resilience.

Agenda of the Conference:

• The United Nations Ocean Conference 2022 had several key agendas that focused on the protection and sustenance of the ocean ecosystem of the world. Some of the important agendas are as follows:

Moratorium on Deep Sea Mining:

• One of the key agendas of the conference was to push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining of rare metals needed for electric vehicle battery construction. The machines used for digging and gauging of the ocean floor can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats.

Carbon Sequestration:

• Another important agenda was to focus on carbon sequestration to enhance the ocean's capacity to soak up CO₂. This can be achieved by either enhancing natural sinks such as mangroves or through geoengineering schemes.

Blue Deal:

• A "Blue Deal" was promoted to enable the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth. The deal includes global trade, investment, and innovation to create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy. The focus on blue food ensures that marine harvests from all sources are sustainable and socially responsible.

High Seas are Unregulated:

• No comprehensive legal framework covers the high seas, which cover around 70% of the Earth's surface and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people. Some activists refer to them as the largest unregulated area on the planet.

Threats to Ocean:

• The conference highlighted several threats to the oceans, including global warming, pollution (including plastic pollution), acidification, and marine heatwaves.

Way Forward

Prioritizing Sustainability and Resilience in Ocean-Based Value Chains:

• The post Covid-19 economy should prioritize sustainability and resilience in ocean-based value chains.
• The Covid-19 pandemic had an uneven impact on ocean sectors such as marine fisheries, marine and coastal tourism, and maritime transport.

Digitization Efforts and Blue Finance:

• Expanding digitization efforts can lower costs for businesses in developing countries.
• Setting up a blue bank for investments can improve the regulation of blue finance.

Call for a Blue New Deal:

• These suggestions can be seen as a call for a Blue New Deal.
• The Blue New Deal is a sister to the Green New Deal, which is already gaining political support and traction worldwide.

Future of Ethanol Blending in India

Energy Demand and Biofuels in India

• Energy demand in India is increasing due to various factors such as expanding economy, growing population, urbanization, changing lifestyles, and rising spending power.
• Fossil fuels currently meet 98% of the fuel requirement in the road transportation sector, while biofuels meet the remaining 2%.
• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 has set a target of 20% ethanol blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme by 2025.
• Achieving energy security and transitioning to a low carbon economy is crucial for India's growth.
• Blending locally produced ethanol with petrol will help India strengthen its energy security, promote local businesses and farmers, and reduce vehicular emissions.
• Ethanol blending can reduce CO2 emissions, but concerns remain about inefficient land and water use for ethanol extraction and potential food security issues.

Definition of Ethanol Blending and concern in India

• Ethanol is an agricultural by-product obtained from the processing of sugar from sugarcane, rice husk, or maize.
• Blending ethanol with petrol to run vehicles while burning less fossil fuel is called Ethanol Blending.
• Currently, 10% of the petrol used in vehicles is made up of ethanol.
• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 has set an indicative target of achieving 20% ethanol blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme by 2025 in India.
• The original target was to raise this ratio to 20% by 2030, but it was pushed back to 2025 when the NITI Aayog released its ethanol roadmap in 2021.
• The reason for increasing the use of ethanol in petrol is to achieve energy security, transition to a low-carbon economy, and reduce vehicular emissions.
• Blending locally produced ethanol with petrol can help strengthen India's energy security and allow local enterprises and farmers to participate in the energy economy.
• While ethanol blending can reduce CO₂ emissions, there are concerns regarding inefficient land and water use for ethanol extraction and food security.

What is the Significance of Ethanol Blending for India?

Ethanl blending is being adopted in India to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions.

Economic Benefits:

• India imports a large amount of petroleum and a 20% ethanol blending programme can save the country billions of dollars per annum.
• A 5% blending can result in the replacement of around 1.8 million barrels of crude oil.

Environmental Benefits:

• Ethanol blending is expected to result in a net reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.
• Ethanol itself burns cleaner and more completely than petrol it is blended into.
• Ethanol blending will help bring down India's share of oil imports, which will minimize air pollution.

Agricultural Benefits:

• More ethanol produced from farm residue will boost farmers' income.
• Ethanol blending will reduce the amount of stubble burned, which will minimize air pollution.

Challenges Associated with Ethanol Blending in India

Shift Towards Sugarcane Production:

• To achieve the 20% blend rate, a significant amount of existing net sown area will have to be diverted for sugarcane production, putting stress on other crops and potentially increasing food prices.

Storage Constraint:

• Annual bio-refinery capacity is still not enough to meet the 5% petrol-ethanol blending requirement, and separate storage is necessary to maintain E10 and E20 fuel supplies.

Food Insecurity:

• Diverting sugar and cane production to ethanol may impact domestic food supply, animal fodder, and export markets, posing a challenge for maintaining the expected ethanol production rate.

Instability of Ethanol Movement Between States:

• Restrictions on inter-state movement of ethanol and non-availability of feedstock or industries in certain states have hindered the pan-Indian scale development of Ethanol Blended fuels and vehicles.

No Reduction in Emission of Nitrous Oxide:

• While ethanol combustion results in a net reduction in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons emissions, it does not reduce nitrous oxides emissions.

Way Forward for Ethanol Blending in India

Uniform Availability of Ethanol Blends:

• Ethanol needs to be supplied from surplus to deficit states to ensure uniform availability of ethanol blends in the country.

Promoting Advanced Biofuels:

• Promote the technology for the production of ethanol from non-food feedstock called "Advanced Biofuels".
• Ethanol produced from rice straw, wheat straw, corn cobs, and other such materials fall under the category of second generation (2G) ethanol.

Supply Enrichment:

• Schemes for ethanol production from different feedstocks and encouragement to augment bio-refineries and their capacities.
• Optimizing engines for higher ethanol blends and ensuring durability test mechanisms is necessary.

Single Window for Clearances:

• A system for single window clearances should be formulated to accord speedy clearances for new and expansion projects for ethanol production.

Setting a Floor Price for Ethanol:

• Government may devise a floor price of ethanol for a few years with an escalation clause for purchase by oil marketing companies to encourage investment by entrepreneurs in expansion/new ethanol capacities.
• Special efforts are needed to attract investors to the North East India.

Balancing Food Security and Ethanol Blending:

• India's biofuel policy stipulates that fuel requirements must not compete with food requirements and only surplus food crops should be used for fuel production.
• Producing ethanol from crop residue will then be a good alternative.